UNDERWATER by MAAYAN NAHMANI :: REVIEW

13 September, 2016

A standalone story of healing and love.

SYNOPSIS

In an instant, my world turned upside down
Because of one incident, my life will never be the same
Every day I struggled to breathe
Every day I went through the motions
I felt too much
I was numb
I was drowning
I was lost inside the black
So they made me go there
I was already there, watching from the dark
And then I met him
And then I saw her
He scared me to death
She took my breath away
He was darkness
She was my light
They whispered he can’t be touched
She was the only one I could touch
I couldn’t be with him, they needed me
I fucking needed her
So I told him I would be his friend
I told her I would be her friend. For now.
But I couldn’t resist him for long
She finally realized that she’ll always be mine
We were a hot mess
We were the perfect kind of mess
Then reality dawned on me
Then my demons broke loose
I was underwater, trying to break through to the surface
I reached out my hand, trying to pull her to shore
Could he really help me?
Would she accept me, scars and all?
This was us
This was our story

Author’s Note:
“This book is based on true events and contains sensitive subjects that may be a trigger to some readers, such as violence, abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also contains a parent with cancer.

Available to purchase below:

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Reviewed by Gitte and Jenny

“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven, and when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, the streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from that united being.” – The Baal Shem Tov

This is a new Author to us and we have to applaud Maayan Nahmani for her debut as it really had the makings of a brilliant story with such passion and high emotion. Sure it was a little bit too insta love for us but we just couldn’t put this book down and we loved how it all made sense in the end, kismet. It really drew every emotion out of us as we read and the concept of fate and love heals all – even the most broken of souls – rang true throughout. Parts of this story felt so real to life you just knew that this Author gave the reader her heart in her very own way. Also, for us as readers and spectators, we connected with the tragedy of topic, as many would, which is why we truly felt this story.

‘So I did the thing I most wanted to do. I let go. I cried.’

We firmly believe that music can explain how you feel and sometimes the music speaks what we cannot. Again, we loved this about Underwater. And the effect it had on our connection to the main characters, Aria and Dorian was really quite poignant.

‘So I’d kissed her. I kissed her like I had never kissed another. Everything I’d experienced before that moment disappeared into oblivion, washed away, never to surface back into my conscious. I could kiss her forever if she’d let me.’

Underwater is a story of love in its purest and most healing form. The moment when two souls recognise a part in the other and fuse together from which springs understanding, tenderness, respect and ultimately love. The journey our characters had to go through was tragic as well as soul searching. When life continuously throws obstacles and heartbreak in your way, how you come out on the other side is greatly affected.

“I don’t understand us, Dorian. What we have…it’s not normal. It’s too powerful, too intense and too soon. I’m afraid.”

Whilst we received an ARC we do have to mention the editing, it had a few inconsistencies and at times the story suffered because of this. However, this being Maayan Nahmani’s first book we’re sure this is something that will be looked at for her next story.

“You’re my Beauty. And I’m your fucking Beast.”

4 Stars

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